THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

>> COMING UP, FLORIDA LAWMAKERS SIGNED OFF ON A POTENTIAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ELIMINATE SOME PROPERTY TAXES.

>> AS THE PROPOSAL HEADS TO VOTERS, WE EXAMINE THE IMPACT.

THE CHANGES COULD HAVE ON YOU, LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE RELIED ON THAT MONEY.

THEY ARE SOME OF THE LOCAL LEADERS IN TECH EDUCATION AND NOW DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL HAS THE ABILITY TO HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE EVEN MORE IN THE WORLD OF STEM.

AND UNRAVELING THE HIDDEN COSTS THAT COME WITH BUYING A NEW HOME.

THE THINGS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR AND WHAT YOU SHOULD AVOID WHEN PREVIEWING A POTENTIAL LISTING.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AFTER NEARLY A YEAR AND A HALF OF PURSUING A MEASURE TO CUT HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES IN FLORIDA.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS GOT HIS WISH IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

LAWMAKERS APPROVED THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN ON TUESDAY OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AND SOME CITY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

OPPONENTS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE LOSS OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE COULD IMPACT ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

THE PLAN NOW GOES TO VOTERS IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IN THE FORM OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSAL.

>> JOINING US NOW TO BREAK THIS ALL DOWN IS FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DOCTOR SANDRA PAVELKA AND WGCU HOST JOHN DAVIS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

IF VOTERS APPROVE THIS IN NOVEMBER, CAN YOU BREAK DOWN WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN WITH THIS PROPOSAL WITH MEAN WITH JENNIFER?

THIS IS AN HISTORIC PROPERTY TAX REFORM PROPOSAL.

>> THAT WAS SPEARHEADED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS AND THEN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.

THIS PROPOSAL WILL GO TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER FOR A VOTE AND THE PROPOSAL ITSELF WILL WILL END UP BEING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT IF PASSED BY SUPER MAJORITY, IT WILL INCREASE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS FROM $50,000 TO $150,000 AS OF JANUARY.

FIRST 2027 AND THEN UP TO 250,000 IN SO THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS AND FLORIDA HOMEOWNERS.

>> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT COULD BE LOCALLY?

>> WELL, IT'S IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS BILL WAS JUST FILED LAST THURSDAY AND THEN LAWMAKERS VOTED ON IT FOR DAYS LATER, TUESDAYS AND TODAY'S END OF THE SESSION, DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS OWN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THIS MEASURE DETERMINES THAT ITS IMPACT IS INCONCLUSIVE AND THEY VOTED ON IT ANYWAY.

IT'S PROJECTED TO COST LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE STATEWIDE.

THAT INCLUDES ALL 411 CITIES.

ALL 67 COUNTIES IN FLORIDA BY MORE THAN 8.4 BILLION DOLLARS JUST BEFORE THEY TOOK THE VOTE IN TALLAHASSEE, LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DECIDED TO SEND A LETTER TO THE LEGISLATURE, URGING THEM TO SORT OF SLOW DOWN ON THIS PROCESS AND REALLY TAKE MORE TIME TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT.

COMMISSIONER KEVIN RUANE.

SO IT'S GOING TO REDUCE COUNTY GOVERNMENT REVENUE BY 25% THE FIRST YEAR.

AND THEN BY ABOUT 40% THE NEXT YEAR REP BRIAN HAMMAN, ANOTHER COUNTY COMMISSIONER SAID THE HE SAID THIS IS LIKE DOING A HOME REMODEL AND THEN KNOCKING OUT A LOAD-BEARING WALL WITH NO PLAN TO PUT ANYTHING IN PLACE TO KEEP THE HOUSE FROM COLLAPSING AFTER YOU REMOVE THAT LOAD-BEARING WALL.

AND IT'S ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT IN HIGHLANDS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THERE WERE CONSIDERING WHETHER TO PUT A REFERENDUM BEFORE VOTERS THIS FALL TO CREATE LIKE A CONSERVATION LAND BUYING PROGRAM SIMILAR TO LIKE CONSERVATION 2020 IN LEE COUNTY AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS AND 19 OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT JUST WITH THE VOTE OF 8, THE LEGISLATURE CHURCH YESTERDAY LOOMING, THEY DECIDED TO JUST INDEFINITELY TABLE.

THAT IDEA BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN ADDING AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON, YOU KNOW, OF COUNTY RESIDENTS.

WHAT SERVICES DO WE KNOW SO FAR WOULD BE PROTECTED.

>> SO SO JUST THIS, THIS ACTUALLY APPLIES TO NON SCHOOL-RELATED PROPERTY TAX.

I DO WANT TO NOTE, THOUGH, THAT THERE WAS NO PROTECTIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.

LAWMAKERS HAD TO HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS IN ORDER FOR THAT OR IS THAT THEY DID AT THAT.

>> BUT IF THEY DID ADD SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, HELD HARMLESS IN THIS.

BUT THE THE CORE SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL.

AND THIS PROPOSAL, INCLUDING FIRE POLICE, PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED EXPENSES AND, YOU KNOW, OTHERS THAT THAT MAY RELATE TO TO THE BILL.

NOW, THERE ARE ALSO THOSE CORE SERVICES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THIS.

AND THAT INCLUDES LIBRARIES, PUBLIC PARTS, PARKS AND OTHER.

>> MOSQUITO CONTROL OF A SUDDEN OF THAT IS INCLUDED.

THOSE ARE NOT CONSIDERED CORE FUNCTIONS UNDER THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL.

I'VE EVEN HEARD SPECULATION THAT THERE COULD BE LAWSUITS JUST ABOUT WHAT IS EVEN CONSIDERED A CORE FUNCTION BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO'S LEFT OR A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SUMMER NOW IS WITHOUT MOSQUITO CONTROL.

YOU CAN STILL LISTEN HERE.

YES, ACTUALLY, EXACTLY.

SO WE THERE IS POTENTIAL LAWSUITS THAT MAY COME DOWN LOW THE WAY.

>> IF THIS INDEED PASSES IN THE NOVEMBER VOTE.

JOHN, HOW DID THE VOTE COME DOWN?

>> I'M GOING TO COME DOWN MOSTLY ALONG PARTY LINES.

THERE WERE A FEW SURPRISES.

THERE WERE LIKE 3 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT IN.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY 2 REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS WHO VOTED NO SOME NOTABLE CONTEXT ON THAT, THOUGH, DESANTIS, THE GOVERNOR HASN'T SIGNED THE BUDGET FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR AND IN LATE MAY, HE WAS ACTUALLY AT A MEETING OF THE CONSERVATIVE WINNING GROUP, THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY.

HE BOASTED ABOUT THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HE'S CUT FROM STATE BUDGET BILLS OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS AND UP FRONT.

SAD.

BUT IF LAWMAKERS ARE PLAYING BALL THAN WHEN HE'S GOING THROUGH WITH HIS LINE ITEM, VETO PEN, THAT'S HOW HE'LL DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHICH LOCAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD FUNDING APPROVED WILL BE CAUGHT.

SO THESE LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING IF I DON'T VOTE IN FAVOR OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS, HE'S GOING TO PUNISH MY CONSTITUENTS BY COMING FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES IN MY DISTRICT.

>> THERE WAS ALSO AN INTERESTING PROVISION THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE FINAL LEGISLATION.

AND THAT WAS A TRUST FUND THAT WAS PROPOSED BY DESANTIS THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED RELIEF FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN ANY OF THE BUDGET SHORTFALLS THAT THEY MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THROUGH THIS.

THIS PROPERTY TAX REFORM THAT WAS REMOVED.

SO THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE AND PROPOSAL THAT THAT VOTERS WILL END UP VOTING ON IN NOVEMBER.

AND IN NOVEMBER, WE NEED 60% IN ORDER FOR THIS TO PASS.

SO IT HAS A RATHER HIGH HURDLE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WERE ALREADY GOING TO BE CONTENTIOUS.

AND THIS JUST ADDS A WHOLE OTHER LAYER TO THAT CONTENTIOUS LURES.

AND I'M PREDICTING WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME STRONG, STRONG LOBBYING FROM, YOU KNOW, GROUPS THAT REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

PUBLIC POLICY GROUPS ARE MEAN EVEN THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION WHO HAVE COME OUT STRONGLY AGAINST THOSE OVER CONCERNS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY EVEN IF THEY'RE STILL OUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE STILL AROUND, BUT THEY LOSE THEIR FUNDING.

THEY'RE RESPONDING TO SITUATIONS WHERE MINUTES AND SECONDS AND RESPONSE TIME CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE LIVING OR DYING.

SO THAT'S BEEN A BIG PART OF WHAT THEY'VE BEEN PROPOSING AT THE SAME TIME, DEMOCRATS WERE TRYING TO HAVE REMOVED SOMETHING THAT DESANTIS HAD PUT IN THERE.

AND THIS IS A 5 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR ALLOCATION OF STATE TAX DOLLARS.

THAT IS NOW GOING TO GO TO COUNTY PROPERTY.

APPRAISER'S OFFICE IS SO THAT THEY CAN SEND OUT MAILERS TO HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OWNERS LETTING THEM KNOW HOW MUCH THEY COULD SAVE UNDER THE AMENDMENT.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING WORK AROUND STATES.

START YOUR THAT EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS THE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY BY THE GOVERNMENT TO LOBBY VOTERS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO I DON'T.

I THINK THAT WE WERE GOING TO SEE.

>> LIKE JOHN HAD MENTIONED MORE AGO.

WE WERE ALREADY KIND OF POSITIONING OURSELVES FOR A TO MOST TO US ELECTION SEASON.

I THINK JUST THE SAPD'S ICING ON THAT CAKE, RIGHT?

YEAH.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE REALLY HIGH VOTER TURNOUT, PARTICULARLY FOR A MIDTERM ELECTION.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LATEST.

WE WILL CERTAINLY KEEP WATCHING EVERY SINGLE DETAIL ON THIS COMING OUT.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE ON THE LATEST FROM TALLAHASSEE AND EVERYTHING SURROUNDING FLORIDA POLITICS.

BE SURE TO LOG IN TO OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

WELL, COMING UP NEXT, SCAMMERS ARE USING AI TO TARGET THEIR NEXT ROUND OF VICTIMS.

THE RESOURCES YOU NEED TO KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED FROM BECOMING A VICTIM OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF ROBOCALLS.

DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL IN FORT MYERS IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A TECHNOLOGY POWERHOUSE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH RIGOROUS IBM STEM COURSEWORK.

THE INSTITUTION NEEDS TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING TECH WORLD.

WELL, NOW A NEW CLASSROOM MAKE OVER GRANT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATE ITS EQUIPMENT AND GET STUDENTS READY FOR THE WORKFORCE.

WGCUS DAYNA HARPSTER WAS THERE FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> THE STEM GRANT IS FOR $50,000 AND IT'S A SELECTIVE SCHOOLS ENROLL IN PRE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE WERE ELIGIBLE DONE BY WAS ONE OF 10 SCHOOLS IN THE STATE TO RECEIVE IT.

THE GRANT WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD UPDATING THE SCHOOL'S COMPUTERS.

AND SOFTWARE SAYS DENISE PENCE, THE SCHOOL'S HEAD OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME BASIC BASIC, BUT SOME UP UPSCALE COMPUTERS THAT ARE GOING TO RUN SOME ROBUST PROGRAMS THAT ARE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HELP US TO SOME GAME DESIGN AND PROGRAMMING WEB DESIGN, DIGITAL GRAPHIC CARDS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT ARE IN THAT THAT ROUND THAT REALLY NEED DESIGN LEVEL COMPUTERS.

>> THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AT THE SCHOOL'S ANNUAL CELEBRATION FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED IN IT AND JUST KEEP PROGRAMS.

THE MONEY IS COMING FROM NEXTERA ENERGY FOUNDATION, THE NONPROFIT ARM OF NEXTERA ENERGY OF WHICH FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT IS A SUBSIDIARY THERE.

WE SAY THE RECEPTION TO THIS NEWS WAS ELECTRIC.

IT GRANTS TARGET TITLE ONE SCHOOLS OR THOSE WITH AT LEAST 40% ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.

THEY SUPPORT UPGRADES SUCH AS 3 D PRINTERS AND ROBOTICS KITS AND OTHER HANDS-ON LEARNING TOOLS.

CHARLOTTE MILLER FROM FPNL EXPLAINS WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE COMPANY.

WE ARE VERY DEDICATED TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES.

NOT ONLY.

>> WITH POWER AND ELECTRICITY, BUT ALSO BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR FOR SCHOOLS IS IS PARAMOUNT.

IT'S THE STUDENTS HAVE ENHANCED LEARNING PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF IT AND ALSO CREATES A POTENTIAL CAREER PATHWAY FOR THEM WITH STEM, INCLUDING THE ENERGY SECTOR.

>> JULIETTE, ROLLBACK OF FPNL EXPLAINS THAT DUNBAR REALLY STOOD OUT FROM THE OTHER APPLICANTS.

DUNBAR HAS A HISTORY OF DOING EXCELLENT WORK WITH STEM.

>> THEY ARE HAVE OUTSTANDING RECOGNITION FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE AND THAT THANKS, STUDENTS THAT HAVE EXCELLED IN THE AREAS OF STEM SO THAT LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR APPLICATION WHEN THEY APPLIED FOR THIS APPLICATION, IT REALLY STOOD OUT NOW.

IT WAS VERY COMPETITIVE.

AGAIN, WE HAD APPLICATIONS FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

AND SO IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THEY WERE ONE OF THE 10 THAT WERE SELECTED.

THEY WERE VERY DETAILED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM AND THEIR PURPOSE AND INTENT AND HAVING THE NEW COMPUTERS AND EVEN THINKING ABOUT THIS RESULTING IN CERTIFICATIONS FOR THE STUDENTS.

SO IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS CLEAR AND SUSTAINABLE, BOTH OF WHICH WE THOUGHT WERE GOING TO BE A VERY WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT.

DUNBAR HAS MADE STEM INTERESTING AND EXCITING.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT'S ATTRACTED ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF STUDENTS AND NOT ONLY OUR TRADITIONAL MALE STUDENTS, IT HAS ATTRACTED MALE FEMALE, ALL DIFFERENT RACES.

AND THIS IS VERY EXCITING FOR US BECAUSE STEM EDUCATION WILL REALLY CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME PERSONALLY.

I THINK THAT'S AMAZING BECAUSE I THINK THAT OUR YOUTH ARE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF THE WORK THEY'RE DOING HERE.

>> FOUNDATION FOR LEE COUNTY SCHOOL CEO MARSHALL BAUER WAS ON HAND TO HELP SPREAD THE NEWS ABOUT THE GRANT.

I'VE BEEN A FAN OF DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO THE TEACHERS TO THE STUDENTS.

>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE JUST OUTSTANDING AMAZING SCHOOLS.

THEY EXCEL AT ANYTHING STEM RELATED AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY LIKE FPL UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT THERE'S A HUGE CONNECTION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND THE REAL WORLD.

>> AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS IT'S 10:00AM I CANNOT THINK OF ANY FIELD THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO PLACE THEM IN SOME WAY.

>> MICRO LACK POWER, PRAISE DUNBAR FROM EARRING THAT REAL WORLD.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LOVE ABOUT DUNBAR IS THE DIVERSITY AND THE STUDENTS HERE.

BOTH WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF FEMALE STUDENTS, AS YOU JUST POINTED OUT, AS WELL AS HITS FROM ALL KINDS OF BACKGROUNDS, REALLY NEED TO START SPREADING OUR WINGS, SO TO SPEAK AND WELCOMING EVERYBODY INTO THE WHOLE WORLD OF STEM AND EDUCATION AND BUSINESS AND BUT A BETTER WORLD.

IT WOULD BE ONCE WE GET TO THAT POINT.

>> FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M DAYNA HARPSTER.

>> SCAMMERS ARE GETTING MORE CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO TARGETING VICTIMS.

ACCORDING TO THE FBI, FLORIDIANS SUFFER FROM OVER 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS IN SCAM LOSSES ANNUALLY IN AN ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT NEW TARGETS.

SOME MALCONTENTS ARE UTILIZING AI TO CREATE FAKE PERSONAS IN AN ATTEMPT TO LURE CONSUMERS UNDER FALSE PRETENSES.

>> THAT'S WILL FROM FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT.

STATE OF FLORIDA HAS RECENTLY CHANGED ITS EFFICIENCY STANDARDS.

YOUR HOUSE HAS BEEN FLAGGED FOR AN ENERGY COMPLIANCE REVIEW.

THERE'S A NEW REBATE RELATED TO YOUR AIR-CONDITIONER BASED ON AGE AND EFFICIENCY.

IF YOUR AIR CONDITIONERS OVER 4 YEARS OLD AND YOU PAY OVER $150 A MONTH ON YOUR ELECTRICITY BILLS.

YOU CAN GET UP TO $3,000 IN ENERGY REBATES.

>> SO IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO BETTER PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BECOMING THE NEXT POTENTIAL VICTIM OF A PHONE SCAM.

WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE LEARNED MORE TO FIND OUT.

>> FOR MORE ON AI SCAMS AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

I'M JOINED BY SHELLEY RAGSDALE FROM FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT IS RAGSDALE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO OUR VIEWERS JUST HEARD A SAMPLE OF ONE OF THESE ARTIFICIALLY GENERATED RECORDINGS.

HOW COMMON ARE THESE TYPES OF SCAMS BECOMING?

YEAH.

SO IT.

>> THE STAND AGE.

THEY'RE BECOMING VERY, VERY COMMON SCAMMERS ARE BECOMING MORE CREATIVE USING ALL TYPES OF WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU FROM A PHONE MESSAGE OR ONLINE TEXTING.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON WAYS FOR SCAMMERS TO TRY TO REACH OUT AND AND SKATING.

BASICALLY.

>> SO NOW FPL DOES MAKE HOUSE CALLS.

I RECEIVED ONE EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT A TREE THAT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED SINCE IT WAS TOO NEAR A POWER LINE.

SO WHEN SOMEONE GETS A CALL FROM A PERSON STATING THERE FROM FPL OR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE BE WEARY OF WHEN THEY GET AN UNINTENDED PHONE CALL?

>> FROM A PHONE CALL PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE IF IT EVER IN QUESTION IF IT'S SOMETHING NEW, JUST DON'T FEEL IS RIGHT.

WE SHOULD ALL ALWAYS HANG UP AND THEN YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR BILL TO VERIFY.

BUT THIS IS TRULY FPL CONTACTING YOU FOR SOMETHING.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY DO MAKE HOUSE CALLS TO WILL HAVE SOMEONE FROM OUR CREW OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, OUR OUR LINE CREW OR VEGETATION TEEN, THEY MAY COME TO YOUR HOME, MAY LEAVE THE DOOR HANGER.

FOR INSTANCE, THAT HAS INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THEY CAME TO YOUR HOME AND, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS YOU NEED TO TRIM A TREE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE IF IT EVER FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW SOMETHING THAT'S JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, ALWAYS HANG-UP OR, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN EVEN CLOSE THE DOOR AND AND NOT ENGAGE WITH THAT PERSON.

IF YOU IF IT'S A TRUE FPL PERSON, THEY'LL HAVE AN FPL BADGE THAT YOU CAN ASK THEM TO VERIFY.

THAT THERE WITH FPL.

BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS AGAIN CALLED THE NUMBER ON YOUR BILL TO VERIFY.

BUT THIS IS TRULY FPL HERE OR CONTACTING YOU TO DO BUSINESS OR DO SOMETHING AT YOUR HOME.

>> AND I THINK WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD STILL PREFER THE ABILITY THEN TO SPEAK PERSON, THE PERSON WITH SOMEONE FPL DOES USE AI AS PART OF ITS CUSTOMER SERVICE.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET THAT WHEN YOU HAVE TO CALL UP A BILL REPORT.

AN OUTAGE.

SO IT'S EASY TO SEE HOW SOME CUSTOMERS CAN BE CONFUSED WHEN THESE REALISTIC VOICES ARE BEING INCORPORATED.

SO HOW CONCERNING IS IT TO SEEING AI BEING USED IN THIS MANNER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT TARGETS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURSELF?

>> YEAH, IT IS DEFINITELY CONCERNING.

AND WE DO HAVE A PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE.

FPL DOT COM SLASH PROTECT.

THAT GIVES A LOT OF GREAT TIPS AND THINGS TO HELP CUSTOMERS PROTECT THEMSELVES.

THANKS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND WAYS TO MAKE SURE YOUR, YOU KNOW, PAYING YOUR BILL THROUGH AN OFFICIAL FPL CHANNEL THAT FPL DOT COM SLASH WAYS TO PAY CHECK OUT THOSE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE IT'S IT'S TRULY SOMETHING THAT'S LEGITIMATE.

WE DON'T WANT CUSTOMERS TO, YOU KNOW, PAY A SCAMMER FOR THEIR BILL AND INSTEAD OF PAYING YOUR ACTUAL BILL BECAUSE AND YOU KNOW THAT THAT JUST STARTS A WHOLE SNOWBALL OF OF ISSUES.

BUT AND IT IS CONCERNING AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CUSTOMERS TO BE VERY THE GILLETT UNAWARE OF THESE SCAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE KNOW THAT SCAMMERS ARE BECOMING VERY CREATIVE.

THEY CAN USE REAL SOUNDING VOICES TO TRY TO.

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND A LOT OF THEIR TACTICS OR OR YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING PAY RIGHT AWAY OR DO SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY OR YOU'RE GOING TO BE DISCONNECTED IN AND THAT'S NOT HOW WE OPERATE.

WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH CUSTOMERS AND GIVE THEM TIME TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE ACTION.

NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY THE SECOND AND WE DON'T TAKE UNUSUAL FORMS OF PAYMENT.

FOR INSTANCE, WE DON'T YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T PAY LIKE AND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NEWS OUR FPL DOT COM SLASH LEAST TO PAY OFFICIAL WAYS TO PAY YOUR BILL AND ALSO CHECK OUT THAT WEB PAGE AT FPL DOT COM SLASH PROTECT.

THAT GIVES ALL KINDS OF GREAT INFORMATION AND THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR AND TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE.

>> SHELLEY RAGSDALE FROM FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> TO HELP PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ROBOCALLS AND POTENTIAL SCAMS YOU CAN ADD YOUR PHONE NUMBERS TO THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL REGISTRY THIS GOVERNMENT PROGRAM ALLOWS YOU TO DECIDE WHAT TELEMARKETING CALLS YOU WILL OR WILL NOT RECEIVE FOR MORE INFORMATION HEAD TO THEIR OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT DO NOT CALL DOT GOV.

AFTER THE BREAK FROM ASSOCIATION FEES TO FUTURE MAINTENANCE.

WE EXAMINE THE HIDDEN COSTS THAT COULD PREVENT BUYERS FROM FINDING THE HOME OF THEIR DREAMS.

FLORIDA'S REAL ESTATE MARKET IS HEADING IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION, LEANING HEAVILY INTO A BUYER'S MARKET.

ACCORDING TO THE BROKERAGE WEBSITE, REDFIN ABOUT 98,000 HOMES HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE FIRST 4 MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

BUT FOR MANY LOOKING INTO BUYING A NEW HOME HIDDEN COSTS AND UNEXPECTED CHARGES MIGHT BE THE DIFFERENCE IN FINDING THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS OR A MONEY PIT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUY A HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FLORIDA, HIDDEN COSTS CAN CERTAINLY BE A BARRIER TO MAKING ENDS MEET BROKER LEAST MCMAHON FROM ACHIEVE.

A REAL ESTATE SERVICES JOINS US NOW TO TELL US MORE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> CAN YOU FIRST EXPLAIN WHAT THIS ACHIEVE A REAL ESTATE SERVICES?

WHAT IS THAT?

>> WE ARE REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE LOCATED OFF OF COLONIAL BOULEVARD AND WE'RE HERE TO SERVICE ALL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WHETHER YOU'RE BUYING OR SELLING A HOME.

>> COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT SOME OF THESE HIDDEN COSTS ARE THAT FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF OKAY.

>> FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS WHEN THEY START THE PROCESS, THERE'S ALWAYS THE INSPECTION AND THAT BECOMES YOU PAY THAT UPFRONT.

AND YOU'VE GOT APPRAISAL COSTS.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE FIRST STEPS THAT ARE UNEXPECTED.

THEN SOME OF THE NEXT ONES ARE WHEN THEY ARE IDENTIFYING A PROPERTY OF MOST INTEREST.

IT'S ABOUT ARE THEY IN A FLOOD ZONE?

WHAT DOES THE INSURANCE LOOK LIKE FOR THAT PARTICULAR HOME IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA?

WHAT ARE THE AGE OF THE ROOF?

WHAT POTENTIAL AGE OF THE HVAC?

THOSE CAN BE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AND DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO BECAUSE THEY BECOME ACTORS LATER ON.

>> AND WE ALSO THINK OF H.O.A.

FEES, THOSE AND TAXES, ALL OF THAT IN AGGREGATE REALLY MAKE THE COST HIGHER THAN WHAT ONE MIGHT INITIALLY THINK.

WHEN YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE COST OF THE HOUSE, CORRECT?

YES, YOU HAVE TO THINK BEYOND THE SCOPE OF JUST THE MORTGAGE.

AND AND WHAT THAT ALSO INCLUDES.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS FAR AS THE PRICE POINT?

>> THAT IS ATTRACTIVE TO THIS FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, SPECIFICALLY AT RIGHT AROUND THAT 300, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY, THEY LOVE TO BE UNDER 300, BUT THE LOW THREES TENDS TO BE AROUND THE MAX PRICE POINT AND IT CAN BE ACHIEVED.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE LOCATION THAT THEY'RE PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN.

WHAT KIND OF PRODUCT ARE THEY INTERESTED?

AND I MEAN, ARE THEY SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR SINGLE-FAMILY?

WOULD THEY CONSIDER MAYBE A TOWNHOME OR CARE IT HOME HAS THERE FIRST-TIME HOME PURCHASE.

>> THE FACT THAT YOU CAN GET INTO A HOME AT THAT PRICE POINT NOW VERSUS 2, 3, YEARS AGO JUST SEEMS SURPRISING.

BECAUSE WE USED TO HAVE SUCH HIGH PRICES JUST TO EVEN GET INTO INTO THE MARKET IN 2021.

2022.

>> WHAT?

WE HAVE LESS INVENTORY.

YES.

AND AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS INVENTORY AT THEN, OF COURSE, WELL, YOU'LL SEE A SPIKE IN PRICING AND LESS PRICE.

>> AND RIGHT NOW, THIS IS CONSIDERED PRETTY MUCH A BUYER'S MARKET.

WE ARE STILL A BUYER'S MARKET.

YES, WE ARE STILL A VERY GOOD BUYER'S MARKET.

SO IF A BUYER IS IN THE MARKET OR EVEN CONSIDERING >> PURCHASING A HOME NOW IS REALLY THE BEST TIME TO DO SO >> WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR A FAMILY OUT THERE THAT SAYS, HEY, THIS IS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

I'M GONNA BUY.

WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT THEY START DOING WITH THEIR BUDGET?

>> BEATRICE WILL TEAR BUDGET AND LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET.

LOOK AT WHAT YOUR FORTE ABILITY IS YOU.

THEY MOST OF THEM ARE RENTING.

SO THAT IS A GOOD STARTING POINT.

MAYBE PERHAPS THEIR RENT IS $1500 A MONTH.

THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT AND THEN START ENGAGING IN CONVERSATIONS WITH, YOU KNOW, A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL AS WELL AS A MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL AND DO A DEEPER DIVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, BE OPEN ABOUT IT AND THIS WAY WE CAN PLUG IN ADDITIONAL COSTS AND REALLY SHOW THEM WHAT BIG PICTURE LOOKS LIKE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM WITH SUMMER VACATION PLANS COMING UP FOR MANY STAYING HEALTHY BEFORE YOUR TRIP IS PRIORITY NUMBER ONE, WE LEARN ABOUT HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING WHY SOME SHOULD CONSIDER SUMMERTIME VACCINES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WGCU DOT ORG.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.